ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio University football sophomore defensive end Tarell Basham was named to the 2014 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Defensive Lineman Trophy Watch List.

Basham was the only player from the Mid-American Conference to be named to the preseason watch list. He also was one of just 40 defensive lineman to earn the preseason recognition.

Basham was selected to the watch list following an incredible 2013 campaign where he led the team with 7.5 sacks as a true freshman en route to being named to the 13th annual Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-America Team.

Earlier this summer, Basham was selected to the Athlon Sports and Phil Steele Preseason All-MAC First Teams.

The goal of College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.

CFPA is now in its seventh season of player and team performance recognition. Twenty-eight CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.